Demi's silhouette stood rigid against the fading light, her arms crossed tightly over her chest as she watched Jack toss his meager belongings into the trunk of his car. The air between them crackled with unspoken tension, a mixture of disappointment and resignation.

"It's better this way, Jack," Demi said, her voice barely above a whisper. "This place... it's not real. It's not you."

Jack paused, his hand resting on the open trunk. He turned to face her, his eyes filled with a weariness that seemed to age him beyond his years. "Maybe that's the point, Demi. Maybe I don't want to be 'me' anymore."

She shook her head, a sad smile playing on her lips. "You can't run from yourself, Jack. Trust me, it doesn’t work that way."

For a moment, Jack saw a flicker of vulnerability in Demi's eyes, a rare glimpse behind her polished facade. But as quickly as it appeared, it vanished, replaced by her usual mask of cool professionalism.

"I'll call you next week," Jack said, closing the trunk with a finality that echoed through the quiet street. "I just... I need some time."

Demi nodded, her lips pressed into a thin line. "Don't take too long. The world moves fast, Jack. It won't wait for you to ‘find yourself’."

As Jack slid into the driver's seat, he caught one last glimpse of Demi in the rearview mirror. She stood there, a solitary figure bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun, watching as he drove away from the life he once knew.

The miles stretched out before Jack, a ribbon of asphalt cutting through the gathering darkness. The soft hum of the engine and the rhythmic thump of tires on pavement created a hypnotic backdrop to his swirling thoughts.

Images flashed through his mind: Sarah's face, etched with hurt and betrayal; Demi's knowing smirk; the warmth of Lily Corner juxtaposed against the cold, glittering world he'd left behind. Each memory felt like a physical blow, causing Jack to grip the steering wheel tighter, his knuckles turning white.

He found himself rehearsing conversations in his head, imagining what he'd say to Sarah if she'd listen. "I'm sorry," he whispered to the empty car, his voice cracking. "I never meant to hurt you. I never meant to... fall in love."

The word 'love' hung in the air, foreign and frightening. Jack had written countless stories about love, crafted intricate tales of passion and desire, but he realized now that he'd never truly understood it. Not until Sarah. And now... now it was too late.

As the city skyline loomed on the horizon, Jack felt a wave of panic rising in his chest. The towering buildings, once symbols of his success, now felt like prison walls closing in around him. He couldn't go back there, couldn't face the emptiness of his estate mansion, filled with expensive trinkets but devoid of warmth.

His eyes darted to the exit signs, searching for an escape. That's when he saw it: "Golden Acres - Next Exit." Golden. The name conjured images of wild parties, beautiful women, and endless nights of debauchery. Golden, who had always been there, ready with a drink and a willing companion whenever Jack needed to forget.

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Jack's hand moved almost of its own accord, flicking on the turn signal. He knew, deep down, that Golden wasn't really a friend. Their relationship was built on shared vices, a mutual understanding that emotions were messy and best avoided. But right now, the thought of facing someone who wouldn't ask difficult questions, who wouldn't look at him with disappointment or pity, was overwhelmingly tempting.

As he pulled off the highway, Jack tried to ignore the voice in his head telling him this was a step backward. He wasn't looking for redemption tonight. He was looking for oblivion.

The winding road to Golden's estate was familiar, each turn bringing back memories of stumbling home in the early hours of the morning, head spinning from too much alcohol and hollow laughter. Jack's stomach churned, a mixture of anticipation and dread.

Finally, the imposing gates of Golden's mansion came into view. Jack pulled up to the intercom, his finger hovering over the call button. For a moment, he hesitated. He could still turn back, still try to face his demons alone. But the thought of another night wrestling with his conscience, with the weight of his choices, was too much to bear.

With a deep breath, Jack pressed the button. The gates swung open silently, inviting him into a world he thought he'd left behind. As he drove up the winding driveway, the pulsing beat of music grew louder, vibrating through the car.

Jack parked haphazardly, not bothering to straighten out his crooked parking job. He stumbled out of the car, his legs stiff from the long drive. The bass from the music thrummed through the ground, matching the erratic beating of his heart.

Standing before the ornate front door, Jack hesitated once more. He could almost hear Sarah's voice, gentle but firm, telling him to be strong, to face his problems head-on. But Sarah wasn't here. Sarah had sent him away.

With a sudden surge of desperation, Jack pounded on the door, his fist connecting with the solid wood again and again. When that didn't seem loud enough to compete with the music, he jabbed at the doorbell repeatedly, the shrill chime barely audible over the thumping bass.

The door swung open abruptly, revealing Golden in all his decadent glory. He stood there, his silk robe hanging open to reveal a pair of garishly patterned briefs, a look of confusion quickly replaced by recognition.

"Jack, my man!" Golden's face split into a wide grin, his eyes slightly glazed. "Now this is a surprise!"

As Jack stepped over the threshold, he felt as if he were crossing more than just a physical boundary. He was stepping back into his old life, leaving behind the promise of something better. But as the door closed behind him with a heavy thud, Jack couldn't bring himself to care. Tonight, he just wanted to forget.

Golden drew back and closed the door behind them.

"I'm sorry," was all Jack could say.

Golden glanced at Jack, his eyes narrowed into slits. "Is something wrong?" he asked, his bushy eyebrows furrowing in concern. "What's going on?" The urgency in his Texan accent might have made Jack smile on any other day, but not today.

"Can we sit?" Jack asked, shifting uncomfortably on his feet, struggling to meet Golden's gaze. "We need to sit."

Golden's demeanor shifted, his eyes flickering with unease. Jack realized he was about to overstep a boundary. Despite knowing Golden for most of his "famous and wealthy" life, he was aware that solace and comfort were not part of their relationship. They knew each other well, but Jack couldn't call him a friend like he had Demi. It was a truth that stared him in the face, but he chose to ignore it.

Golden was his ‘buddy’, but not the shoulder Jack needed right now.